The SonLight

FROM MWB ARCHIVES (Oct 2012). Of two hanging baskets on the porch, one was healthier and bloom-ier than the other. I had this keen idea that the one was getting more sunlight so I switched their locations. Quite pleased with myself, I decided it shouldn't take long to see just how smart I was. SonLight exposure is pretty important to our spiritual health. Look at a few of the references to light from God's Word: Romans 13:12 - "let us put on the armour of light" ... 2 Corinthians 6:14 - "what communion hath light with darkness" ... Ephesians 5:8 - "now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" ... Ephesians 5:14 - "Christ shall give thee light" ... 1 Thessalonians 5:5 - "Ye are all the children of light" ... 1 John 1:5 - "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" ... 1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another" ... Revelation 21:23 - "the Lamb is the light thereof" ... Revelation 22:5 - "And there shall be no night there ... for the Lord God giveth them light". God is serious about His children being in His Light. Remember, He sent The Light of all lights -- Jesus Christ. I think He wants us to know light is important. It really didn't take long to see results from that little switch-a-roo of the plants. What makes all the difference in our spiritual walk is exposure to ... The SonLight.

Reality of the Soul

Have you ever considered what makes something real ... really real? Products advertised or dreamy vacation spots - we see and hear but until we personally use the product or visit the vacation spot, we don't really know the scope of the reality. In David's prayer of Psalm 16, he says, "Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.'" (Psalm 16:1-2 NKJV). Nothing compares to personal experience; here, David acknowledges and speaks of a sound and steadfast confidence of which he is sure! When speaks, he isn't just moving his lips; no, he says "O my soul, you have said to the LORD ..."  Every living breathing human has a soul: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7 KJV). That divine breath of God gave birth to the soul of man - the seat of all man is ... physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually. So when David speaks, he is speaking from the whole, the core, the heart of who he is. He can do this because over and over, God has delivered and rescued him, consoled and comforted him, renewed and refreshed him ... he know from personal experience. Oh, how much we forfeit because we refuse to allow God to continually breathe into us His peace, joy, comfort, deliverance, love and grace in every circumstance of life. Once we have tried that product or visited that vacation spot, it become real - we buy it again (or not), visit the place again (or not) ... because we know. God is the lover of our soul, and He never disappoints. Rather, He proves to be all He says He is and does all He promises to do. He is the ... reality of the soul.

Joy Roots

From MWB Archives (Oct 2013). Isn't it amazing at the past-times which people find … joyful? Have you ever stepped back and took a real serious look at how Americans spend their free time? What about hitting a small white dimpled ball with a stick towards a small shallow hole hundreds of yards away? Or how about spending hours in your car on curvy mountain road [with hundreds of other cars] admiring colorful dying leaves? Of course, these activities bring people joy, even though when you really think about it ... it really doesn't sound so joyful.Any way you twist or turn it, real lasting joy is wrapped up only Jesus Christ. Nehemiah 8:10 says "the joy of the LORD is your strength." No more, no less -- just right. Not only that, His joy is steadfast -- rooted to the depth of infinity ... and beyond! When we depend on circumstances, situations, finances, or people for joy ... count on being disappointed and disillusioned. All those things change with the wind and the roots of such joy prove shallow soon enough. The Joy of the Lord, however, proves to be the strength needed for our spirits to withstand even the fiercest of the enemy's snarls. While The Father certainly created reminders of where real joy is -- a rainbow, beautiful sunsets, autumn leaves, laughter of children, aroma of coffee -- He remains the True Source of all joy. We are wise and obedient to put our "joy roots" in Him alone.

Better

 FROM MWB ARCHIVES (Oct 2010). No, I'm not a football fan but I sure wich i was! It would make this time of year so much more tolerable. If we had ten televisions, I'm sure each one would be on a football game. I ask myself sometimes, "how can i possibly despise football yet live in a house full of football fans!" Have you ever done the Do-Better Plan?  Oh, I have (and do) far-too-much.  Sometimes Mister Bill and I call a Do-Better family meeting.  We get all pumped up with warm-fuzzies and happy-smilies (as much as guys do that), and everyone actually does better ... for a few days.  In the end, however, we need another meeting!  Believers can’t expect to just decide on-our-own to hate sin and spiritually … do-better.  Sure, we can muster-up lots of oomph and get all fired-up against our sin but apart from Christ, all we get is tired and flustered!   John 3:3 explains why this happens, “flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.“  I love how Spurgeon expounds on this truth of God’s Word: “Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them.”  See, that’s how it works!  We must trade-in the ineffective Do-Better Plan for divine workmanship in us.  That’s how and when we become acutely conscious of not offending God and others in word or deed. Maintaining a “short list of sins” keeps Believers’ hearts in right-standing with The Father and His Word effective in us.  This late in life, I don’t expect my thoughts towards football to improve but I know [without reservation] God-in-me makes all things … better.

Invincible

From MWB Archives (Oct 2011). Adventures of Tarzan were a childhood favorite of mine.  I remember wishing I could swing from tree-to-tree but never figured out how to do that in Georgia pines. Our God is invincible!  I am evermore amazed how my circumstances can convince me otherwise.  A change in anticipated plans can quickly lead to disappointment, anger, resentment, bitterness and cynicism - joy swallowed up! I find myself crying with the psalmist, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” (Psalm 69:1-2)  The why’s of this life don’t always have an obvious answer. Imagine the bitter disappointment of King David, driven from his kingdom by Abimelech, yet he wrote, “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” (Psalm 34:1-2)  I remember watching Tarzan fall into quick sand and one of his trusty animal friends toss him a vine, which he used to pull himself to safety.  Jesus described Himself as the True Vine and spoke of how we can live unshaken in this life: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (15:5)  We may never swing from tree-to-tree but when we choose to abide (remain, live, dwell) in Christ - The Solid Rock - we face everything in the invincible power of Almighty God.  Live invincible!